The Paul Lambert thread - poll reset after our capitulation to Hull

[brontebilly]

Not many teams wouldn't miss their best two forwards (Benteke and Kozak), Midfielder (Delph), and three defenders (Vlaar, Hutton, and Senderos) and all during a period playing the 5-6 best teams in the country all in one horrible run.

Benteke being back in the team has made a definite impact already, as has the return of Hutton and Okore getting a game. With Delph, Vlaar, Senderos and Kozak to return in the next few weeks things will pick up hopefully.

I have been wanting to see a change of manager, but now feel that we may as well see how things pan out. New assistant and maybe a signing in the window could see us have a strong finish.

I do think Lambert needs to just focus on adding better quality now, all the more expensive signings (Vlaar, Benteke, Kozak, Okore) have looked pretty astute, it's the bargain buys that have been hit and (largely) miss. We have if anything too many players now and I don't want us back to having a silly wage bill of non playing dross again having been through the pain of clearing the decks once already.

To be fair up to a few weeks ago, Okore was Lambert's fifth choice centre half. Agreed in the main that Lamberts dealing havent been bad. Spending 7m on Kozak when we were woefully short of quality in midfield was poor judgement. Wouldnt blame him too much for the bargain bin duds like Tonev, Helenius, Sylla and Bowery.

Its everything else he has struggled with as a manager.

[not3bad]

Still think Helenius could turn out well. Looked good in his brief appearances for Villa and it was hardly his fault the way things went.

[Steve67]

Just because we have risen to 11th place doesn't mean we are the quality side we've been craving. Sustain this improvement and I will reconsider. We may have played last years top six and lost the lot, but they are not this years top six. Also, injuries happen to every side. I am really pleased that we have picked up points recently but we have to build on it.

[pauliewalnuts]

Just because we have risen to 11th place doesn't mean we are the quality side we've been craving. Sustain this improvement and I will reconsider. We may have played last years top six and lost the lot, but they are not this years top six. Also, injuries happen to every side. I am really pleased that we have picked up points recently but we have to build on it.

Like I said, every time Lambert has had a really decent result or two (and it is usually just the one), he has failed to build on it. See the likes of the wins at Liverpool.

He gets a good result, then goes on a run of awful ones, then gets another good one just in time to keep his job, with the end result we finish at the arse end of the table because the quality, overall, has been nowhere near enough.

I'll happily get behind him when I see him stop that happening. I won't hold my breath.

[JUAN PABLO]

...the turn around of Hutton is nothing short of magnificent.

I'm guessing that it wasn't his plan all along. "If I ostracise him for the first two years he's bound to come back a great player in the third season". Lambert is just very fortunate that Hutton is as professional as he is.

The credit for the turnaround in Alan Hutton belongs primarily to Alan Hutton.

Spot on

[aj2k77]

After winning two in a row under Lambert the next game has seen us lose every single time under Lambert. Let's see if he can get a run going this time, fingers crossed.

[Meanwood Villa]

I'm obviously pleased we're winning and long may it continue but I'm not able to overlook the lengthy and frequent runs of utter dross he has been responsible for. So I'd still give him the boot. Although it would like quite perverse right now.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Is Lambert waiting for the transfer window to bring in a new Assistant Manager, has everybody he's approached turned him down as they know he'll be gone by the new year or is happy to run things alone with Scott Marshall doing the coaching?

[Chris Smith]

Is Lambert waiting for the transfer window to bring in a new Assistant Manager, has everybody he's approached turned him down as they know he'll be gone by the new year or is happy to run things alone with Scott Marshall doing the coaching?

It's less than a fortnight since Grizzly Adams left, I think it's a bit soon for even the most dedicated critics to be starting. It's not like you just ring up Pertemps and they send one over. *

*I've set it up for you all there.

[QBVILLA]

After seemingly setting  every bad record in Villa's history  i think it would  take relegation  to see the back of Lambert  whilst Lerner owns the club. He's here for a while yet.

[gpbarr]

I am sure remaining undefeated against Sandwell and Man Ure will be down to playing another awful team and a spent force for the other.

ILWT

Eh? No, it will mean that we performed better than or similar to them and we scored more or an equal amount of goals. Wind your neck in, please.

His point is well made because if that happens then that's exactly what the reaction will be. He's damned either way. That's all

[aj2k77]

I am sure remaining undefeated against Sandwell and Man Ure will be down to playing another awful team and a spent force for the other.

ILWT

Eh? No, it will mean that we performed better than or similar to them and we scored more or an equal amount of goals. Wind your neck in, please.

His point is well made because if that happens then that's exactly what the reaction will be. He's damned either way. That's all

Does anyone really believe that if Villa suddenly started playing decent football and winning games consistently there would be many people slating him. We want to be proven wrong, we want to watch a successful side, we want to see Lambert saying we are excellent after we've just trounced Manure 3-0 at home. Just the evidence suggests it's not likely to happen under him.

[Rudy65]

If we are top 8 at the end of the season i will give him some credit.

We all, including me, get carried away by a few decent results. Long way to go

[old man villa fan]

If we are top 8 at the end of the season i will give him some credit.

We all, including me, get carried away by a few decent results. Long way to go

If he was to get this squad to 8th I would say that would be something akin to a miracle!  I think something a little better than 'some credit' would be called for.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

If we are top 8 at the end of the season I will be having a massive party...you're all invited!